Inversion or tilt indicator

ABSTRACT

An improved tilt or inversion indicator uses a pair of storage chambers for colored particles that are free to flow through passageways of opposite inclinations from the vertical into an indicator chamber so that one storage chamber empties into the indicator chamber for a tilt in one direction from the vertical, and the other storage chamber empties into the indicator chamber for the opposite tilt from the vertical.

United States Patent Davis et al.

[ Sept. 5, 1972 [54] INVERSION OR TILT INDICATOR [72] Inventors: GeorgeM. Davis, 120 Maywood Ave., Rochester, NY. 14618; William M. Lander,5048 Ridge Road, Horseheads, N.Y. 14845 22 Filed: Jan. 14,1972

21 App1.No.: 217,858

[52] US. CL. ..1l6/ll4 AH, 73/492 [51] Int. Cl. ..G01d 21/00 [58] FieldofSearch ..ll6/114, 114 AH; 73/11, 12,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,768,602 10/1956 Eichholzet al. ....l16/114 AH Salembier ..1 16/114 AH Davis eta]. ..ll6/1l4 AHPrimary ExaminerLouis J. Capozi Attorney-Cumpton, Shaw & Stephens [57]ABSTRACT 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures INVERSION OR TILT INDICATOR THEINVENTIVE IMPROVEMENT US. Pat. No. 3,467,053 shows an inversion or tiltindicator using a card having an aperture covered with front and rearlamina to contain colored particles in a storage chamber connected by apassageway to an indicator chamber so that if the indicator is tilted orinverted, the particles flow to the indicator chamber where they stickto an adhesive coating on the front lamina and make a permanentindication of the inversion. This indicator is simple and quiteeffective for indicating a full inversion, or a tilt of 90 or more, butit does not give an indication for a tilt of less than 90.

The invention involves recognition of the need for a simple device forindicating a tilt of less than 90 while retaining the basic simplicityand economy of the device of US. Pat. No. 3,467,053. The invention alsoinvolves the discovery of a simple and expedient way .to accomplishthis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventive indicator is of the same generaltype as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,467,053, but it uses an improvedformation of the card aperture to provide a pair of storage chambersspaced on opposite sides of a vertical line through the indicatorchamber when the indicator is upright. A separate passageway leadsupward' from each storage chamber to the indicator chamber, and thepassageways each have an acute angle to the vertical line so thatparticles can flow from one storage chamber into the indicator chamberduring a tilt in one direction from the vertical, and particles can flowfrom the opposite storage chamber into the indicator chamber during theopposite tilt from the vertical. The inclined passageways also preventparticles from bouncing up into the indicator chamber during upright butbouncing motion.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a preferred embodiment of theimproved indicator; and

FIG. 2 is a crosssection of the indicator of FIG. 1 taken along the line2 2 thereof.

Indicator as shown in the drawings is similar to the indicator shown inU.S. Pat. No. 3,467,053. Generally, indicator 10 is formed of anapertured card 1 1 having a transparent fro'nt lamina 12 secured to card1 l to cover the aperture with a pressure-sensitive adhesive face towhich indicator particles stick. A rear lamina 13 covers the back ofcard 1 l and has a pressure-sensitive coating for mounting indicator 10on a package for shipment. The improvement lies in the shape andfunction of the aperture in card 11, and this is best shown in FIG. 1.

Aperture 15 in card 11 as viewed through front lamina 12 of FIG. 1includes an indicator chamber 16 preferably shaped as an uprightarrowhead, and a pair of storage chambers 17 and 18 below indicatorchamber 16. Storage chambers 17 and 18 have respective passageways l9and 20 leading to indicator chamber 16. The tops of passageways l9 and20 are closed by a blocking band 21 that extends out of one edge ofindicator 10 in a tab 22 that can be gripped for pulling band 21 out ofits slot to ready the device for indication. Colored particles 23 arestored in each storage chamber 17 and 18 to effect a visual indicationif indicator 10 is inverted or tilted sufficiently. In use, indicator 10is secured in upright orientation to a package for shipment, and band 21is removed by pulling on tab 22 so that particles 23 are free to flowthrough passageways 19 or 20 to indicator chamber 16 if indicator 10 isinverted or tilted.

Passageways l9 and 20 are each inclined upward relative to a centralvertical line 24 through indicator chamber 16. Passageways 19 and 20 arethen also angled relative to each other, and are preferably angled from20-50 to vertical line 24.

The angle in passageways l9 and 20 is important for two reasons. First,particles 23 bouncing vertically upward from storage chamber 17 or 18strike the inclined walls of passageways l9 and 20 and hence have nofree vertical pathway into indicator chamber 16 to make a false tiltingor inversion indication from mere upright vertical bouncing. Hence, theangle in passageways 19 and 20 prevents false indication of tilt orinversion. Second, a pair of passageways l9 and 20 each angled to thevertical as illustrated, allows a more sensitive tilt indication thanwas previously possible. If indicator 10 is tilted clockwise from theposition illustrated in FIG. 1, particles 23 flow from storage chamber17 down passageway 19 and into indicator chamber 16 when the tiltexceeds the complement of the angle between passageway 19 and vertical24. For an opposite tilt in the counter clockwise direction from theorientation shown in FIG. 1, particles 23 from storage chamber 18, flowdown passageway 20 into indicator chamber 16 when such tilt exceeds thecomplement of the angle between passageway 20 and vertical 24. Bothstorage chambers 17 and 18 empty completely into indicator chamber 16 ona full inversion.

The angle of passageways l9 and 20 relative to vertical line 24 ispreferably at least 20 so that if a package carrying indicator 10 istilted and laid on its side, particles will readily flow from theuppermost storage chamber 17 or 18 down a 20 incline into indicatorchamber 16. The angle between passageways l9 and 20 and vertical lines24 is also preferably not more than about 50 to allow reasonable tiltingwithout particle flow.

The double storage chamber and angled indicator passageways of indicator10 have surprising advantages over the previous indicator in havingenhanced tilt sensitivity to a tilt in either direction while retainingbasic simplicity and economy. One of the indicators 10 mounted on eachof two perpendicular vertical walls of a package can indicate a tilt inany direction exceeding a predetermined angle of for example, about 60.This gives high security to the shipment of valuable equipment withoutincreasing the cost or complexity of the indicator device.

Persons wishing to practice the invention should remember that otherembodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances.Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing anddefining the invention, this should not inhibit broader or relatedembodiments going beyond the semantic orientation of this application,but falling within the spirit of the invention. For example, thoseskilled in the art will be aware of the materials, shapes, andconstructions possible with the inventive indicator.

I claim:

1. In an inversion or tilt indicatorhaving a card with an aperturecovered by front and rear lamina to contain colored particles normallyheld in a storage chamber but free to flow through a passageway to anindicator chamber upon tilting or inversion of said indicator, animproved formation of said aperture card to provide:

a. a pair of said storage chambers spaced on opposite sides of avertical line through said indicator chamber when said indicator isupright;

b. a separate one of said passageways leading upward from each of saidstorage chambers and communicating with said indicator chamber; and

c. said passageways each lying at an acute angle to said vertical lineso that said particles flow from one of said storage chambers into saidindicator chamber for a tilt of said indicator in one direction from thevertical, and said particles flow from the other of said storagechambers into said indicator chamber for a tilt of said indicator in anopposite direction from the vertical. 2. The indicator of claim 1wherein said acute angles are between 20 and 50,

3. The indicator of claim 1 wherein said acute angles are equal. 1

4. The indicator of claim 3 wherein said acute angles are between 20 and50.

5. The indicator of claim 4 wherein said acute angles are approximately30.

1. In an inversion or tilt indicator having a card with an aperturecovered by front and rear lamina to contain colored particles normallyheld in a storage chamber but free to flow through a passageway to anindicator chamber upon tilting or inversion of said indicator, animproved formation of said aperture card to provide: a. a pair of saidstorage chambers spaced on opposite sides of a vertical line throughsaid iNdicator chamber when said indicator is upright; b. a separate oneof said passageways leading upward from each of said storage chambersand communicating with said indicator chamber; and c. said passagewayseach lying at an acute angle to said vertical line so that saidparticles flow from one of said storage chambers into said indicatorchamber for a tilt of said indicator in one direction from the vertical,and said particles flow from the other of said storage chambers intosaid indicator chamber for a tilt of said indicator in an oppositedirection from the vertical.
 2. The indicator of claim 1 wherein saidacute angles are between 20* and 50*.
 3. The indicator of claim 1wherein said acute angles are equal.
 4. The indicator of claim 3 whereinsaid acute angles are between 20* and 50*.
 5. The indicator of claim 4wherein said acute angles are approximately 30*.